Mercedes takes nothing for granted

Difficulty operating the tires and lack of grip, loss of engine power and abandonment for Lewis Hamilton, fourth place only for Nico Rosberg, the Singapore weekend was not easy for the clan Mercedes, so dominant since the start of the championship.

“We don’t lose a second and a half from one Grand Prix to the next, nor do we gain a second and a half. We had to face massive tire degradation. Which had never happened to us before. We experienced a problem specific to this circuit? » claimed Toto wolff, the boss of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport.

On a Japanese track which should also suit the W06 Hybrid perfectly, the Austrian is expecting a rebound from his troops, but does not forget the competition led by the Team Ferrari. « In Suzuka we will be back. We stay calm, learn from our mistakes and use those disappointments as motivation to get back in front.

A bad weekend doesn't take away from what has been an incredible season so far and we know our car is competitive. But we also recognize the constant threat of our rivals. We cannot take our position for granted. »

The star team won the double last year at Suzuka, with Lewis Hamilton ahead of Nico Rosberg.

Find the full report of the Singapore Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents, in issue 2030 of AUTOhebdo, available now in digital version and on newsstands.